Applying for disability with Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by severe drowsiness and fatigue. Some people with narcolepsy also experience the sudden loss of muscle strength, known as cataplexy. There is no cure for narcolepsy, but treatment – such as stimulant medications, frequents naps, and other forms of behavioral therapy – can help.

Narcolepsy type 1 is a rarer, more severe form of narcolepsy that includes cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness) and is linked to low levels of a brain hormone called hypocretin. People with narcolepsy type 2 don't experience cataplexy and usually exhibit normal levels of hypocretin.

Prevailing on your narcolepsy disability claim requires medical evidence to support the diagnosis. Medical evidence may include one or more of the following:

    -Sleep study results

    -Genetic testing

    -EEGs

    -MRIs or other brain imaging

    -Results of muscle testing (if your narcolepsy causes you to lose muscle control)

    -Medical records and treatment notes from physicians and specialists

    -Journal that shows patterns in your sleep habits. It is best if the journal is a contemporaneous account of your sleeping habits, as opposed to one created after the fact in anticipation of filing a disability claim, but one written for those purposes is still sufficient

You should also provide information regarding any prescribed treatments, including any you stopped because they were ultimately not helpful. For example, if you stopped taking a medication because the side effects were worse than the condition itself.

Records of injuries you’ve suffered as a result of narcolepsy may also be helpful. For example, if you fell asleep while driving and were injured in a subsequent car accident, or if the sudden onset of muscle weakness caused you to drop boxes you were moving at work, the medical records can help show how the narcolepsy negatively affects you beyond simply causing you to fall asleep at unexpected times.

Applying for disability benefits can be a confusing and challenging process. Conditions such as narcolepsy often need special consideration because their disabling symptoms aren't always apparent. Consider getting help from an experienced disability attorney. I have over 26 years experience with Social Security Disability cases all over the US. Contact me to help you win your case. My email is joshben99@gmail.com

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